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Bipolar Disorder/Can't work with Bipolor

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Expert: - 6/6/2005


Question
Hello Jurriaan,  My Girlfriend has Bipolor and claims she can not work at a job but here's the kicker She can't tell me why she can't work. She just claims she can't. Why would a person that has Bipolor not be able to hold a job, I just don't get it.  Thanks Jim

Answer
Hello Jim,

First of all we have to find out whether she has Bipolar Disorder. Has she been diagnosed?

Bipolar disorder is an serious mood disorder characterized by phases of mania and depression.

This should be supervised by a psychiatrist, because so far the best way to control Bipolar Disorder is by means of drugs, such as Lithium carbonate.

With proper medication many Bipolar people manage to hold a job.

Bipolar Disorder can also be improved by the adoption of the hypoglycemic diet, that helps to stabilize mood swings. But this should always be with the approval of the doctor.

If she is taking medication such as Lithium side effects can be reduced by certain nutrients such as vitamin B12 and folic acid.

This is a vast topic but you could refer the doctor to

Werbach,M.R.(1991), NUTRITIONAL INFLUENCES ON MENTAL ILLNESS, Third Line Pres,Inc.,Tarzana,Cal. Chapter on Bipolar Disorder

Jurriaan Plesman, BA (Psych) Post Grad Dip Clin Nutr
For more articles see
http://www.hypoglycemia.asn.au

Bipolar Disorder

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Jurriaan Plesman, Nutritional Psychotherapist

Expertise

Have worked as a psychotherapist for overv twenty years, dealing with many personality disorders

Experience

I have a degree in Psychology from the Sydney University and a Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Nutrition. I am also the author of “GETTING OFF THE HOOK” which deals with the nutritional and psychological treatment of personality disorders. It is freely available on the internet at Google Book Search. I am interested in the relationship between nutrition and behaviour, and as a Probation ans Parole Officer facilitated groups for offenders, many of whom were alcoholics and drug addicts, sex offenders or compulsive gamblers, as well as the whole gamut of “personality disorders”. I am also the ex-editor of the Hypoglycemic Health Association of Australia Newsletter, a quarterly publication dealing with hypoglycemia and related health problems. Its web site, together with a shortened course of PSYCHOTHERAPY can be visited at: http://www.hypoglycemia.asn.au

Organizations
Editor of the Hypoglycemic Health Association of Australia. Its web site is at:

http://www.hypoglycemia.asn.au

Publications
Author of the book "Getting off the Hook", It is freely available on the internet at Google Book Search. Various articles in the Hypoglycemic Health Association's Newsletters

Education/Credentials
BA (Psych) (University of Sydney), Post Gad Dip Clin Nutr (International Academy of Nutrition)

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